Acu-TENS for Pain Relief During Colonoscopy

NCT ID: NCT01751815

Last Updated: 2014-02-11

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE3

Total Enrollment

135 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2012-10-31

Study Completion Date

2013-12-31

Brief Summary

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Background:

Colonoscopy is often regarded as a painful and unpleasant procedure. Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation on Acupoints (Acu-TENS) is a non-invasive modality that has been used successfully to treat pain of various origins, but few good-quality studies have evaluated its role in treating pain and anxiety during colonoscopy.

Objective:

To investigate the efficacy of Acu-TENS in reducing procedure-related pain and the consumption of sedatives/analgesics during colonoscopy.

Design:

Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Subjects:

One hundred and twenty eight consecutive patients undergoing first-time elective day-case colonoscopy without previous experience of acupuncture/Acu-TENS will be recruited.

Interventions:

Patients will be randomized to receive either 45 minutes of Acu-TENS or placebo-TENS before colonoscopy. The acupoints relevant to the treatment of abdominal pain and distension, including Zusanli, Hegu, Neiguan, Tianshu, and Dachangshu will be used. For the placebo-TENS group, a non-conductive plastic film will be placed between the acupoint and the electrode so that no current will be transmitted. Acu-TENS and placebo-TENS will be continued throughout colonoscopy. A mixture of Propofol and Alfentanil, delivered by a patient-controlled syringe pump, will be used for sedation/analgesia in both groups.

Outcome measures:

Primary outcome: doses of patient-controlled sedation/analgesia consumed. Secondary outcomes: pain and satisfaction scores according to a visual analog scale, cecal intubation rate/time, and episodes of hypotension/desaturation.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Pain

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Acu-TENS

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Acu-TENS

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Patients randomized to the experimental group will receive Acu-TENS on acupoints relevant to the treatment of abdominal pain and distension, including Zusanli (stomach meridian ST-36), Hegu (large intestine meridian LI-4), Neiguan (pericardium meridian PC-6), Tianshu (stomach meridian ST-25), and Dachangshu (bladder meridian BL-25).

Placebo-TENS

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Placebo-TENS

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Patients randomized to the control group will receive placebo-TENS at the same acupoints.

Interventions

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Acu-TENS

Patients randomized to the experimental group will receive Acu-TENS on acupoints relevant to the treatment of abdominal pain and distension, including Zusanli (stomach meridian ST-36), Hegu (large intestine meridian LI-4), Neiguan (pericardium meridian PC-6), Tianshu (stomach meridian ST-25), and Dachangshu (bladder meridian BL-25).

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Placebo-TENS

Patients randomized to the control group will receive placebo-TENS at the same acupoints.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Consecutive patients (aged between 18 and 60 years) undergoing first-time elective day-case colonoscopy
* Patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grading I-II
* Informed consent available

Exclusion Criteria

* Patients with previous experience of acupuncture or Acu-TENS
* Patients with previous history of colorectal surgery
* Patients who are diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome according to Rome III criteria
* Patients with chronic pain syndrome
* Patients with psychiatric disorder
* Patients with poor cognitive function
* Patients with renal impairment
* Patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
* Patients with cardiac arrhythmias
* Patients with cardiac pacemaker
* Patients who are pregnant
* Patients who are allergic to the Acu-TENS electrodes or Propofol/Alfentanil
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Chinese University of Hong Kong

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Simon S. M. Ng

Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Simon SM Ng, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Chinese University of Hong Kong

Locations

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Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong SAR, , China

Site Status

Countries

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China

Other Identifiers

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CRE-2011.442-T

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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